Mark stared down at the exhausted girl with a feeling of satisfaction. Her face was flushed and her breathing heavy, and while he too was coated in a thin layer of sweat, he wasn't nearly so haggard as she.
Her icy blue eyes glared up at him as she took notice of the amusement that seemed to be almost dancing inside of his own. She didn't know why he appeared so smug. This was her first time, at least in this life, engaging in such vigorous physical activity.
When she agreed to his suggestion, she certainly didn't imagine the activity to be so painful or tiring. Her legs burned something fierce, but she just had to let her pride get in her way after seeing the ease in which he performed the deed, forcing her to attempt to keep pace.
And thus she lay here on her back, sweaty, tired and in pain, glaring up at the reason for her current predicament.
"You're not too tired, are you? This is just the start," Mark said, holding out his hand for her to take. He probably shouldn't be so happy to see her in such a state, but he felt it was justified, considering she tried to strangle him a week ago. And thus, the grudge was satiated.
She glowered briefly at it before deciding to accept the gesture, allowing the boy to pull her to her feet. She almost collapsed on her wobbly legs, but Markus made sure to keep her on her steady.
"I believe you said that the exercises weren't that difficult," Tanya griped, giving him a baleful look as he helped her towards the porch so she could sit and rest for a bit, the amused look of Captain Otto V?lkner watching them from the porch swing with a cup of tea in his hands.
Tanya herself prefers the taste of coffee, but she wouldn't begrudge someone their favored beverage. It was a bit ironic, considering she was Japanese in her previous life, and they were obsessed with tea.
"They aren't. You only ran a couple of miles. Though, I suppose I'm not an accurate judge of difficulty, considering I've been doing these exercises for months. But I'm sure you'll adapt soon enough," Mark replied, getting an aggravated huff from the girl.
"Soon enough… Sounds like a platitude," Tanya said as she sat down on the steps, sighing with relief. Mark himself plopped down next to her, enjoying the moment of respite, despite not being nearly as tired.
"He's right. Give it a month or two and you'll wonder why you ever struggled with this in the first place. You should have seen Mark here on his first day. He didn't even make it halfway. At least you finished," Otto said, leaning over the rail and giving them a smirk.
However, his words caused intrigue to stir within the small blonde girl as she raised one of her delicate eyebrows and gave the older man a coy smile.
"Oh, do tell."
"Now I don't think that's necessary. Anyhow, that information is completely useless to you," Markus said, trying to deflect the situation. But if anything, he only increased her interest.
"I believe the information to be entirely relevant. Knowing how long it took you to acclimate to this regimen could prove to be very valuable data so I can extrapolate a hypothesis on the appropriate amount of time it should take me to do the same," Tanya said calmly.
Listening to this, Otto couldn't help but marvel at the intelligence shown by these two children. He had believed Markus to be smart before, but his contemporary might have him beat. As it stood, he could barely keep up with the conversion.
How could the Empire be so blessed as to have two prodigies born so close together? Was it the work of God or simple luck? While Tanya's Magical Aptitude wasn't nearly as high as Mark's, it was still impressive. She might even have more than him by the time she reaches maturity.
He allowed the two kids to bicker light heartedly for a time, a content smile on his face. It was an image he would like to protect, so he would do his best to ensure they were as prepared as they could be for military service. Training these two had become somewhat of a priority amongst the higher ups.
Tanya snuck a glance at the captain. Seeing the look on his face she determined that her bid to show off her intelligence had provided results. With any luck, he would recommend her for a position in the rear echelon, perhaps as part of Strategic Command.
Yes, something like that would be ideal.
Markus saw the look on Tanya's face and tried not to snort. From his perspective, it was pretty obvious what she wanted to accomplish by using overly flowery words. She wanted to impress upon the higher ups the value of her intelligence over the value of her magic. He hoped it worked out, but judging by the words of Being X, he somehow doubted things would be that easy.
"What do you find so amusing?" Tanya asked, seeing his expression.
"Oh nothing. Just imagining Ella's reaction if I told her about you making goo-goo eyes at another man. It would devastate her wedding plans," Mark replied, a smarmy grin on his face.
"Do you want me to strangle you again?"
"No thanks. I'd rather not develop any strange kinks if you don't mind."
From inside the kitchen looking out the window, Joanna watched as the two children continued their exercises. It was almost comical, watching the two of them struggle with the amount of pushups being demanded of them. Unfortunately, it was a struggle of necessity.
Though the two of them would be joining as mages, making their cardiovascular system far more important to develop than their muscles, the army still required them to pass the standard fitness tests. Or at least, the modified ones.
Tanya seemed to have a bit more muscle on her than Mark, and she could see her teasing him about it. She still wasn't sure how she felt about the girl, but the romantic in her was squealing at how adorable they looked. Too bad that part of her was drowned out by motherly rage.
Still, as angry as she was at the little son stealer, she couldn't help but worry about her joining the army. Just because she didn't want to lose her son to another woman, as awkward as that phrasing was, didn't mean she wished harm upon her.
Honestly, she hoped Tanya lived a long and happy life. Just as long as she did it far away from her precious little muffin. She just got him back, damn it! And now here he is, bringing home girls already. She thought this wouldn't be a concern for her until he reached his teenage years. But then again, her baby was highly advanced for his age.
A little too advanced in her opinion.
Before her thoughts could spiral anymore, she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her body. With a sigh, she leaned into the familiar touch of her husband, allowing his presence to comfort her.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" he asked, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge against poor little Tanya?"
"It's not a grudge. My fervent desire to prevent my son being stolen by some hussy is perfectly natural," she said, enjoying the feeling of him chuckling against her, the deep reverberations from his chest lulling the tiger back into the cage. But at the same time, she was irritated that he had the audacity to laugh at her concerns.
This duality of emotions drove her up the wall sometimes. And the worst part was, he didn't even know he did it! Did all married women face this conundrum, or was it just her?
"I don't think you have to worry about protecting him from Tanya. They seem to get along quite well. Honestly, I'm glad he found someone he can relate to. I was worried his intellect would drive a wedge between him and others, but it seems to be the unifying force bringing them together," he said, gently swaying his body back and forth to a tune only he could hear.
And of course, she just had to get swept up in his tempo! With every back and forth motion she felt his words becoming more and more reasonable. Curse him! Couldn't he just let her stew in her indignation for a little while longer.
"I know… But I can't help but feel like we're losing him all over again. We just got him back, and already he found someone he prefers to spend all his time with. I can see it in his eyes, the way they light up when they talk to each other. And she's no different," she murmured.
If she were to be brutally honest, she felt like she lost her son in that accident almost two years ago and the person outside was a fake. It was an awful thought for a mother to have, but the two of them were just so different. It was hard to reconcile them into the same person.
"How about, instead of losing a son, think of it like you're gaining a daughter," Frank said. Joanna tilted her head, letting his words penetrate into the deepest part of her brain.
"Keep talking," she ordered, making him chuckle again.
"You've been looking at this as a glass half empty kind of way, like you're losing him to her. But rather than pour out the contents of the cup, imagine her presence filling it up instead, making it full instead of empty."
"So what you're saying is, we should adopt her, thereby making them siblings and socially unacceptable to be together," Joanna said, causing the man behind her to pause in his movement.
"No, that's not it at all. Nice try," he teased, making her roll her eyes at him. She knew that's not what he meant but you can't blame a girl for trying. But still, he had a point. If she tried to keep them apart, Markus would likely come to resent her. Tanya was the only one who seemed to be able to understand him and vice versa.
It gnawed at her that a random girl would be able to empathize with her son more than her, but at the same time, ever since meeting her on Christmas, there was a noticeable improvement in his demeanor. And just last week, he almost seemed over the moon.
"I know what you're saying, and as much as I hate to admit it, you're right. Having her around is good for him. I mean, just look at them," she said, pointing at the two. Mark and Tanya were sitting in the grass and resting. Mark said something that caused her to push him to the ground, making him laugh.
In all the time since his recovery, she hasn't seen him truly laugh. Chuckle, perhaps, but not laugh. He was always so serious, she was afraid she would never hear the sound again. Yet here they are.
"Like I said, they compliment each other, just like we do. My glass didn't feel full until I met you after all," he said, planting another kiss on his cheek. She shivered at the feeling, a familiar ache starting to arise. One that demanded she take him upstairs and have her wicked way with him.
"Really? If your glass was full with me, what did you do when Mark came along?"
"I got a new glass."
"Hey… how much longer do you think they'll be?" she asked, turning round and giving him a look that made him shiver. He knew that look and he knew what it meant. Perhaps he should get a sock and leave it on the front door's handle. He was sure Otto would know what that meant.
"Well, they're only half way done with the physical exercises and then it's time for magic training, so it should be a while. Why, did you have something in mind?" he asked in a husky voice, lowering his lips to her ear.
She shuddered before turning around, desire filling up her eyes. Her feelings of forlorn disappearing as she grabbed him by the hand, practically dragging him towards the stairs.
"You know what I want, and you're going to give it to me."
"Yes Ma'am!"
*Line Break*
Tanya and Mark lay next to each other in the grass, the whole of their bodies screaming at them for the stress they just put it through. While Mark had become somewhat adjusted to his workout routine, it was never quite so strenuous. He always made sure there was some difficulty to provide adequate amounts of stress to the muscles so they could adapt, but now that he was on a much stricter timeline, he didn't have the option of taking it easy.
And Tanya… Well, safe to say she hasn't found the need to push herself in such a manner since her reincarnation. In her past life she made sure to keep up her physical appearance, not wishing to be seen as lazy or glutinous, but even then it was the bare minimum.
She just never saw reason to do more. She didn't engage in sporting events beyond watching them on the television, and that was only as a necessity to engage in small talk with coworkers and executives who took the pastime far too seriously. It was important for those in a higher position to view you in a good light, and being ignorant of their hobbies was a good way to alienate them.
You could either have them remember you in a positive manner or a negative one, and as someone climbing the corporate ladder, she wanted to ensure it was the former.
"Not bad, kids, not bad. You did better than I thought you would," Otto said, holding up a clipboard. The Imperial Army was strict when it came to the physical abilities of their soldiers, so much so that if you were off by a single pushup, you would be rejected.
That being said, the requirements weren't all that difficult. Fifty pushups within two minutes, same with squats and situps. Next was a two mile run that must be completed within 15 minutes. After that, a recruit must pass an obstacle course. This one wasn't timed, but the faster you complete it, the better.
Today was all about seeing where the kids stood and where they would need the most improvement. Looking at the clipboard, he had to admit, they did good. He was being honest when he said they did better than he thought. Most grown men could do what they did easily enough, but considering they were only 5 and 6 years old respectfully, it was damn good.
For the run, it took Tanya about 22 minutes to complete, while Mark managed it in 18. They still had a ways to go, but he was confident they would get there by the time the Cadet Corps semester started.
Next came the pushups, and this is where they needed the most training. It was, unfortunately, also the most time consuming. Mark managed to get to 20 in the two minutes allotted, which is good for his age. And considering his atrophied body not too long ago, he can safely assume the Medical Formula was doing its job to speed things up.
Tanya herself managed to get 24, which surprised him. He thought for sure she would be below Mark, but it just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover. Once he made a note of their starting scores, he made them do 50 in total.
Their curses were music to his ears.
Next was the squats, which they did fairly well in. Better than the pushups at any rate. Mark did 35 while Tanya did 28. The earlier run had really taken its toll on the young girl. Had it not been for that, they might have actually been able to complete the test. He made sure they reached at least 50 total in this as well.
With sit-ups they were pretty much even, with Mark only getting one more than Tanya at 32. It was clear she didn't like losing, pushing the boy over as he teased her about it. If they developed a friendly rivalry, it would only push them to further their abilities to not fall behind the other.
Chuckling at the two kids glaring at him, he gave them 20 minutes to cool down and recover before starting their magic lessons, something both of them were eager to start. Tanya was looking forward to learning such a valuable skill while Mark was more enraptured with figuring out how the Computation Jewels truly functioned.
"So, how was your first day of training Ms. Degurechaff?" Mark asked once his breathing was under control. He turned slightly to stare at the girl, who was glaring up at the sky.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Irritating. I knew I was weaker, but until today I hadn't quantified by how much. I can't believe how difficult doing a few pushups was," she grumbled. Mark nodded, feeling the same way. Like his compatriot, he wasn't the most able bodied person in his past life, but he wasn't fat or lazy. But when trying to keep a sinking ship afloat, one didn't have the luxury of spending time in the gym.
"True. It is rather depressing. But at the very least we have nowhere to go but up," he said, trying to lighten the mood. He wasn't sure it was all that effective, considering the sigh he heard in response.
The two lay there in companionable silence for a while until Otto returned, having gone off to do who knows what.
"Alright kids, break time's over. Who's ready to learn some magic?" he asked, a grin on his face. But they only groaned at his enthusiasm.
"Now, now, no need for that. As this is Tanya's first lesson, I'll make sure to take it easy on you," he said with a chuckle. Messing with these kids was just too much fun. Way more than having to deal with new recruits.
But to his surprise, Tanya shook her head. "Taking things easy for my sake is detrimental to Mark's growth. I will not be so inconsiderate as to hamper his progress," she stated firmly.
Her words surprised both of the people there, though Otto was more surprised than Mark. He figured, with her competitive streak, she would be happy to level the playing field so to speak. Looks like he underestimated her again.
Unlike his instructor, Mark knew she had some alternative reason for such a seemingly altruistic statement. He doubted it was simply to further his own growth, though considering they were preparing for war, perhaps that WAS part of it. The question is, what was the other part?
For her part, Tanya felt her little impromptu speech achieved the desired results, making her seem as if she was the type who places others above herself. Which was, of course, preposterous. She was the most important person in her life, but the way others perceived her was also paramount to her successful ascension through the ranks.
So if they saw her as someone who cared about the growth of those around her and wouldn't sabotage them to propagate her own abilities, that would show she was a team player. A perfect cog in the Imperial war machine.
Not that she didn't care about his development. His abilities would prove key in ensuring her survival. So making sure he continued to advance at his own pace while working to catch up would prove advantageous in the long run.
"Well, that's very mature of you Tanya, but there's no reason for you to worry. Most of the work Mark and I have been doing is theoretical, with the only real formulas we've been using are Medical Formulas," Otto informed, sending Tanya a smile.
"Oh, I see. Then I eagerly await instruction," she said, feeling somewhat embarrassed by her assumption that he was far more advanced than he was. But wait, if all they were doing is Medical Formulas, how did he increase his strength when they fought?
"Don't tell me that was the first time he attempted it," she thought with disbelief. She made sure to carefully mask her thoughts, not wishing either of them to know just what she was thinking.
If that was true, then he was either extremely lucky or extremely talented. She would prefer the latter, as luck was an unreliable partner, however necessary it was to court him.
But with no proof, she let the matter slide for now. There would be time to interrogate him later and chastise him if need be. Not heavily, of course, as he only performed that bit of magic to defend himself from her, which made it justified, but she still didn't appreciate being a guinea pig.
"Actually, that might be a good place to start. Mark, why don't you show us your progress?" Otto asked, though they both understood it as an order. Giving a nod, Mark pulled out his Computation Jewel, staring at it like it was an old friend.
"Alright, here we go," he said, activating the device. Tanya felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It wasn't the feeling of fear, but rather, the sensation of static electricity filling the air.
Mark closed his eyes and began to concentrate, willing the magic within him to impose itself upon the world. He felt the Computation Jewel in his hand activate, the gears inside spinning in tandem as they worked to alter the world to his liking.
Tanya watched with some fascination as his body began to glow a soft green. Small wisps of translucent verdant energy emanated from his body, almost looking like smoke. His fiery red hair swayed from the expulsion of the energy like it was caught in a gentle wind.
Otto watched this with emotionless eyes, making sure he was completely impartial in his assessment. So far, the kid was exceeding his expectations. Very few people in the Empire were as proficient with Medical Formulas as Mark. And to think, he was only Six! How good would he be when he reached adulthood? It was almost scary to think about.
After a few minutes, Mark released his grasp on his magic, letting out a breath as the energy faded away. His body felt a bit lighter than it did just minutes ago, like he had just got a good night's rest.
"How was that?" Mark asked, looking towards his instructor. Otto regarded him for a few moments, before nodding in approval.
"Good. There was barely any fluctuation as you performed the Formula. I believe if you were to attempt it, you could likely get your Magical First Aid Certification right now if you wished," he praised, getting a small smile from the child. He then turned to his friend sitting beside him and asked what she thought.
"It was impressive, I have to admit. It's obvious you dedicated numerous hours towards this skill," she said, though she actually wasn't sure about that. Considering he said he could buy Talents, she didn't know if this was a byproduct of his System or a result of hard work.
Regardless, he had the skill, and having someone capable of healing grievous injury on a whim was worth befriending. Especially when war was on the horizon. Such an ability would prove invaluable to her survival. Perhaps she could learn it as well?
However, seeing him move around easier than he was made her raise a curious eyebrow. "Tell me, did that formula remove your fatigue?"
"Some of it, yeah. I could have removed all of it, but doing so in this instance would be counterproductive to the intended results," he told her, making her even more curious.
"How so?"
"Well, the body needs to undergo a certain amount of stress to induce the adaptation needed for muscular growth. Without that, we wouldn't get any stronger. So if I were to remove all of it, my body would be unable to improve. It would render the whole process of exercise moot," he informed her.
"Interesting. So how much are you able to remove without affecting development?" she asked, intrigued.
"Roughly 40%, give or take. Anymore than that and the results of the exercise diminish. It was actually published in a medical journal I read during my incarceration at the hospital," Markus told her.
"In other words, you can reduce recovery time by about half while maintaining full efficiency. I must admit, I'm a bit envious," Tanya admits. With his method, one could achieve nearly twice the results of a normal person in the same amount of time. If the Empire had more people capable of such a feat, their army would be second to none.
And that was already a pretty close race.
"In that case, why don't you use it on her Mark?" suggested Otto. The two turned to him, a bit confused by the proposition. Tanya herself wasn't exactly opposed to the idea, as Mark proved to be quite capable in his usage of the Formula, but part of her was still apprehensive.
Her only interaction with magic had been during the aptitude test, where she made several objects float, but no one has used magic on her directly.
Mark was feeling nervous for much the same reason. He's only used the Medical Formula on himself, and that allowed him to feel how the magic operated within his own body and make adjustments as he went along. But he wouldn't be able to do that if he performed the task on another person.
At the same time, what was the point of learning the skill if he wasn't going to use it on other people? Being able to only heal himself seemed like a sure-fire way to be sent on the most dangerous missions available.
"If you believe it wise, Captain, then I suppose I can go along with your suggestion," Tanya said after a moment. Her acquiescence surprised him a little, but he supposed the benefits outweighed the potential dangers.
"There's no need for concern. Mark, you might not know it, but you're actually one of the best the Empire has at casting that formula. And this will help Tanya feel the flow of magic as you imbue her with your own. And if something goes wrong, I'll be here to correct it," he assured, seeing the hesitant look on Mark's face.
Seeing that he wasn't getting out of it, Mark sighed in resignation. "Alright. Tanya, turn around. I figure this will be easier if I just touch your back," he said.
"Is touch necessary?" she asked while moving to comply with his request. It wasn't the worst drawback, if you could even consider it one, but she could imagine a few scenarios where it could be detrimental to the treatment of the patient.
"Not really, but according to the manual, doing so should allow me to better feel how my magic interacts with yours. No reason to make things difficult for our first time, right?" he responds, gently placing his hand on her back, ignoring the snort coming from Otto at his phrasing.
"Correct. Proper risk management is important for any venture," Tanya replied with a firm nod. Otto thought Tanya was better suited to managing a hedge fund than going to war, but such is life. Perhaps after her military service she could pursue such a career.
"True. While this shouldn't pose a significant risk, there is always a chance something could go wrong. I'll endeavor not to give you cancer," Mark said in a joking manner, making Tanya snort, the small amount of tension he could feel in her back evaporating.
"Thanks. I would rather avoid such an outcome."
"Duly noted. Now, I'm going to start," Mark informed her, before closing his eyes and calling on his magic once again. The Computation Jewel activated once more, the gears turning as the cranked out the numerical formula that allowed him to impose his will on the world.
For a few seconds, Tanya didn't feel anything, but it didn't take long before she felt a sort of tingle coming from her back, staring at the point of contact with Mark. From there, it slowly moved its way across her entire body. She wasn't sure how to describe the sensation. It was sort of like sticking your tongue on a 9V battery, only everywhere. Not painful or truly unpleasant, but certainly out of the ordinary.
Strangely enough, she found it oddly soothing.
Looking at her hands, she noticed they were glowing that same, soft green that Mark was glowing with just minutes ago. Wisps of virescent light left her body in vaporous streaks. It was quite the sight when it was happening to him, but an altogether different experience seeing it from her own perspective.
This continued for a few minutes, with Tanya feeling slightly recharged from the effort. Physically, at any rate. There was still plenty of mental fatigue, but at least she didn't dread standing up and walking anymore. Her muscles even stopped screaming at her, which was a relief
And just like that it was over. Markus released his grasp on his magic and the energy left Tanya's body. But the effects remained. She clenched and unclenched her fists in slight wonder as she marveled at the treatment. She had been slightly anxious over the thought of how sore she would be, but it seems those fears were mostly unfounded.
Mark sighed as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He went extra slow when treating her, making sure he didn't screw up. It was definitely more difficult than performing the act on his own body, but in the end the greater challenge was getting his own head out of the way.
"How's that? Feel better?" Mark asked. Tanya nodded, barely paying attention to him, far more entranced by the feelings in her own body.
"Yes, it seems Captain V?lkner wasn't just singing you false praise. I am suitably impressed. You wouldn't mind teaching me this skill, would you? I believe it could prove invaluable in the future," she asked, turning her head to look at him.
"Not sure I'll make much of a teacher, but I'll do what I can," Mark replied.
"As much as I enjoy seeing the two of you getting along, you already have a teacher, in case you've forgotten," Otto said, crossing his arms over his chest and giving them an amused yet stern look.
"My apologies Captain V?lkner. I seem to have gotten carried away. It won't happen again," Tanya assured with a slight bow, her Japanese instincts kicking in. She cursed herself internally for her faux pas. It was quite rude to ask someone to teach them something in front of another teacher, especially when they were teaching the same thing.
"That's alright. But now that you've felt how magic feels as it circulates the body, it should prove easier to call it forth. Mark, let me see your Computation Jewel for a second," Otto ordered, holding out his hand expectantly.
"Now, what I'm going to do is pre load a Formula into the Computation Jewel, so all you have to do is channel your magic into it. I've found this to be the best method for first timers to draw out their magic," Otto said after Mark handed over his device.
"What Formula will I be using?" Tanys asked curiously, watching as the Computation Jewel lit up slightly. It was a far cry from what she experienced with Mark's Formula, so she assumed the spell itself would be far weaker.
After all, it wouldn't make sense for her to start out with an Explosion Formula or something similar.
"A simple Levitation Formula. It's also known as an Anti Gravity Formula, and was a precursor to Flight Formulas. There we go," Otto explained as he finished loading the spell into the Computation Jewel.
"Now, your job will be to make this pen float," Otto said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a very similar pen to the one Mark used for his first time. Tanya nodded in understanding. It seemed simple enough.
"Here, give it a whirl," he said, holding the Computation Jewel towards Tanya. She took the device gingerly, knowing how expensive it was. Even if it was an older model, it still carried a hefty price tag, and Tanya did not have the funds available to offer recompense should she break it.
Holding it in her hands, she stared at the unassuming, pocket watch looking thing. Hard to believe such a small thing allowed humans to rewrite the laws of the universe at their pleasure. Who needs the so-called gods when humans could reach the same heights?
But now wasn't the time to ruminate on such topics. Seeing the expectant looks of her companions, Tanya closed her eyes and started to concentrate on the power within her. It wasn't hard to find, thankfully. Captain V?lkner was correct that having felt magic flowing through her earlier made finding it a simple task.
He well deserved his spot as a member of the Magical Instructor Unit.
The device in her hands whirred to life and she could feel the wellspring of power within her get sucked into it. She didn't have to designate the Formula to be used, as Otto already did that, so she just concentrated on pushing her magic into the Computation Jewel itself.
Now this is where things took a turn for the worst. You see, Tanya had a firm desire to showcase her talents to the higher ups. This led to her magic responding to those desires, sending far more magic than was necessary into the Formula. Once that happened, the law of cause and effect took place.
The pen in Otto's hand shot off, rocketing towards the house so fast it was little more than a blur. The Captain barely had time to blink in confusion before the sound of breaking glass could be heard, along with a girlish scream.
The three of them turned towards the house, with Tanya's face paling at the realization of what she did. Several seconds of tense silence went by before the window opened, showing Joanna wearing a robe sticking her head outside.
"Alright, who was it that thought firing a pen into my husband's ass would be funny?" she asked, making the three in the yard look at each other. Tanya herself was beyond mortified. Not only did she display a lack of control with her magic, but she also injured an incredibly important man in the Empire's military. Such a thing could ruin her career.
Mark, seeing the blonde haired girl about to hyperventilate, decided it was better if he took the blame for this one. His mother already didn't view Tanya in a favorable light, and he somehow doubted this would help in that regard, even if he thought it was hilarious.
Besides, this way she would owe him one.
"Apologies mother, I seemed to have lost control. Is father alright?" Mark called out, much to the shock of Tanya. She stared at him, incomprehensibly, wondering why he would take the blame for her actions.
"Mark, you did this?" she asked, bewildered. Since when did her son lose control over anything? He was the definition of calm and collected. Looking at the others in the yard, she could see the guilty, confused look Tanya was sending towards her son, and the pieces clicked into place.
He was showing off for her. He wanted to impress his friend and caused an accident in the process. As much as it pained her to do so, he would need to be punished.
"Yes, I'm sorry mother. I'll endeavor to better remain in control in the future. I'll be up shortly to heal his wound, if that is agreeable," Mark replied. She sighed in response.
"Fine, just don't take too long. We'll talk about your punishment when you get up here," she replied sternly before slamming the window down, leaving the three of them in silence.
Otto didn't say a word, letting the two children sort this out for themselves. Tanya turned to Mark, an angry, confused, and appreciative look adorning her face. It was quite the combination of emotions.
"Why? Why did you take the blame for my actions?" she asked. It was something she would never do. There was no benefit in it for her to accept the mistakes of others as her own, so she didn't understand why someone else would do so.
If somebody made a mistake, they should pay the price for that mistake. In a free market, if a company made an error they would have to suffer the financial burden of that error. Tanya was firmly against the idea of government bailouts. That was a one way slope towards socialism.
If the fault lies in the employee's, then the ones responsible should be fired. No company should be forced to bear the burden of employing the incompetent. Unlike what the Marxist's would have you believe, not everyone is born equal. Not everyone has equal talents. In a competitive, merit based system, the most skilled and qualified should be the ones to thrive.
In this case, she proved herself to be incompetent, and therefore, should have faced the consequences of her error. And yet, she felt somewhat relieved by his actions. She didn't mind people making mistakes. To err is human after all. But she still felt people should face the repercussions of those mistakes.
Not every mistake required drastic, corrective recourse, but if people were allowed to operate under the assumption that their blunders would not be corrected, they would simply stop trying to perform the correct actions. It would lead to the total collapse of society.
Just think if criminals weren't punished for their misdeeds. It would only further incentivize them to continue with their illicit behavior. Now Tanya didn't believe in a totalitarian state that enacted punitive measures on citizens for something as vague as a thought crime, but she firmly believed that a functioning society needed some rules.
And people who broke those rules should be punished.
Looking at the overly serious looking Tanya, Mark couldn't help but adopt a somewhat furtive expression. He didn't think his taking the blame would be that big of a deal, but it seems she took it poorly.
"It's because… Look, you seemed like you were on the verge of a panic attack, so I thought that was the best way to calm you down. I won't face any serious backlash for attempted patricide beside being grounded with no dessert for awhile," he explained, causing Tanya's eyes to widen.
"Was I really so panicked he thought I was about to have an episode of some kind? Sure, stabbing the Admiral with a pen could be seen as tantamount to treason, but surely a rational and logical society would see the accident for what it was," she thought to herself.
If what he said was true and she was on the verge of a panic attack, then she should be grateful he snapped her out of it before it became too serious. The last thing she needed was for the Empire to think she wasn't mentally fit for service. That would lead to them either rejecting her outright or sending her on a single, suicide mission to extract at least some value out of her.
"I see… Then you have my thanks," Tanya said. Mark smiled and waved her off.
"No problem. Besides, now you owe me one," he said with a cocky grin, making Tanya realize he wasn't entirely altruistic in his actions. That should have irritated her, but honestly, it made her feel relieved. People who were truly altruistic were oftentimes naive and easy to take advantage of, and that was the last thing she needed in a partner fighting against the injustices of the gods.
"Now, I'd better go treat my father's backside," Mark said before turning around and heading towards the house. "I suggest the two of you continue to practice away from the house while I do so. Don't need to have another accident now, do we?"
Tanya grumbled something under her breath, seeing the lighthearted dig for what it was. Captain V?lkner smiled as he stared down at the small girl next to him.
"That's a pretty good friend you have."
"I suppose," Tanya said with a sigh. The two of them took his suggestion to heart and moved further away from the house. The Adlers had several acres of land, so there was plenty of space to choose from.
And this time, she would make sure to take things ice and easy. If she managed to stab another military official, she doubted she would be able to write it off as an accident. The Empire might even consider her to be a spy! She did not fancy being interrogated, so the slow and steady path it was.
And no one else was stabbed that day. At least not by Tanya.
